Post by supermeerkat on Jan 11, 2011 20:06:52 GMT -4

I came across an unverified claim that Deke Slayton offered the chance of commanding the first Moon landing to attempt to Borman and then McDivvit, who both refused. I have never heard that claim before, Deke didn't mention it in his autobiography. McDivvit was at odds with Slayton and Shephard and stood very little chance of flying after 9. Does anyone have anything more on the subject?

Also, any of the Apollo Commanders were certainly capable of making the first moon landing, but were there ever any serious contenders other than Armstrong / Conrad?

It's okay to ask questions. It's not okay to pretend that every nutty idea that comes along is worth serious consideration.

Post by Obviousman on Jan 11, 2011 21:00:25 GMT -4

I have to check my sources again, but IIRC Borman was not actually offered the lunar landing but was considered a leading contender, along with Conrad. I believe Armstrong actually was third or fourth on the list.

"Truth needs no defence. Nobody - NOBODY - can ever take the footsteps I made on the surface of the Moon away from me."Gene Cernan, Apollo 17

Post by echnaton on Jan 12, 2011 11:28:51 GMT -4

IIRC, there was also a canceled mission to simulate the lunar landing from high earth orbit that was deemed unnecessary after the success of A9 check out of the LM. That decision brought the subsequent missions up one step by making A10 the lunar orbit test and A11 the landing mission.

For those who wish to maintain an illusion, ignorance is the best source of knowledge.

Post by Bob B. on Jan 12, 2011 11:49:34 GMT -4

IIRC, there was also a canceled mission to simulate the lunar landing from high earth orbit that was deemed unnecessary after the success of A9 check out of the LM. That decision brought the subsequent missions up one step by making A10 the lunar orbit test and A11 the landing mission.

The canceled mission was the original mission of Apollo 8, which was the scheduled E-mission. Instead a new mission was inserted between the C-mission (Apollo 7) and the D-mission (Apollo 9). This new mission, which was the redesigned mission of Apollo 8, was designated a C-prime mission. The F-mission (Apollo 10) and G-mission (Apollo 11) remained in their same place in the queue.

Post by Obviousman on Jan 12, 2011 17:37:51 GMT -4

In discussions with the government after the crew announcement I believe someone noted that it was probably an advantage that he was, but it played absolutely no part in the selection process. If it had, Deke and about 90% of the Astronaut Office would have been highly offended.

"Truth needs no defence. Nobody - NOBODY - can ever take the footsteps I made on the surface of the Moon away from me."Gene Cernan, Apollo 17

Post by Obviousman on Jan 13, 2011 4:48:06 GMT -4

According to both Slayton and Borman, Borman elected to retire rather than retrain on the LM in 7 months for Apollo 11 (at the time, Borman had no LLRV/LLTV experience). He informed Slayton of his intentions before flying Apollo 8, so he was not actually offered the Apollo 11 mission, but Slayton says that he would have considered sending the Apollo 8 crew on Apollo 11 if Borman had been willing. Borman further says that he was not interested in flying any mission after Apollo 11 because his primary motivation was flight testing rather than science. Borman never flew in space again after Apollo 8, his second mission.

Jim McDivitt

According to Slayton, McDivitt was offered the LMP seat on Apollo 14 with Sheppard [sic]commanding the mission. Slayton says that McDivitt declined the offer, at least in part because he did not wish to accept the mission if not in command. McDivitt, in his NASA oral history, says that he could have had command of Apollo 13 if he had wanted it. The Apollo 13 and 14 crews were swapped prior to their official assignment, so it is not clear which of the two missions McDivitt was referring to. Whichever account is correct, it is clear that McDivitt could have had a prime crew assignment on a lunar landing mission if he had wanted it. At one point, Slayton also considered assigning the entire Apollo 9 crew (which McDivitt commanded) to Apollo 12, but he later decided against that when Borman declined to consider taking the Apollo 11 mission. McDivitt never flew in space again after Apollo 9, his second mission.

Mike Collins

According to both Slayton and Collins, Collins was offered command of the Apollo 14 backup crew, which would have led to command of Apollo 17. He declined that opportunity, and never flew in space again after Apollo 11, his second mission.

"Truth needs no defence. Nobody - NOBODY - can ever take the footsteps I made on the surface of the Moon away from me."Gene Cernan, Apollo 17

Post by Glom on Jan 13, 2011 8:22:48 GMT -4

Interesting. I see the trash talking about the Apollo 7 crew continues. Eisele's short career is attributed to Apollo 10 backup duty but Kranz said it was actually Captain Grouch's negative influence on him during Apollo 7 that did him in.